Urgent Wake-Up Call: Dire State of Mobile Connectivity in Shillong Demands Immediate Accountability
The Stark Reality of Poor Mobile Connectivity in Shillong
By Dushyant Wadhwan
Upon returning to Shillong after three years in Delhi’s corporate sector, I eagerly anticipated the joys of my hometown. However, my excitement quickly faded as I confronted the unchanged landscape of Shillong, save for a modest Shoppers Stop. A far more pressing concern soon emerged—the abysmal state of mobile internet connectivity.
In Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, I enjoyed astonishingly reliable 5G speeds of up to 800 Mbps with Jio and 200 Mbps with Airtel. Contrarily, back in Shillong’s 4th Furlong area, even maintaining basic 3G connectivity is a struggle. Whether it’s Jio or Airtel, the service is uniformly poor, and any inclement weather or power outage renders the internet virtually non-existent. This predicament, compounded by recent 25% tariff hikes, feels like a deliberate ploy by telecom companies to overcharge for subpar services.
Currently, I pay Rs 999 for a 3GB/day plan, which is functionally worthless due to the dismal connectivity. It’s infuriating to pay high prices for services that one can barely utilize. My aunt, residing in the same area, has also endured these issues for over four months, underscoring a widespread problem among the community.
This disparity between urban and smaller towns raises significant questions about the fairness of telecom pricing structures. While competition in cities like Delhi pushes service improvement, smaller towns like Shillong suffer from persistent neglect. It’s imperative for telecom providers to be held accountable, ensuring they deliver reliable services regardless of location.
Telecom companies must invest in infrastructure, maintain transparency in service updates, and provide better customer support to address these challenges. Such measures are crucial to foster trust and ensure equitable digital access in today’s interconnected world. The responsibility lies with the providers to enhance service quality, ensuring all consumers have dependable internet, essential for today’s digital landscape.
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/09/26/dire-state-of-mobile-connectivity-in-shillong-a-call-to-accountability/
Category : SPECIAL ARTICLE
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